The Kaua‘i Watershed Alliance The Watershed Introduction & Background |
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| Wai‘ale‘ale, arguably the wettest spot on earth, sits at the head of five major watersheds, outlined in black on the map. The vast majority of the central highlands is covered in native rainforest and associated ecosystems such as montane bogs and dense, wet shrublands. This area contains 47% of Hawai‘i's endemic plants (plants found only in Hawai‘i), 55% of Hawai‘i's endemic birds, and 42% of Hawai‘i's native natural communities. Consequently, Kaua‘i is the most biologically diverse island in the Hawaiian island chain. The KWA Boundary, shaded in green, contains most of the central highlands. The area shaded in orange represents the KWA's highest priority for native forest and watershed protection. |
| Introduction and Background - The Value of Forested Watersheds Native Ecosystems - Primary Threats - Existing Management |
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| The Island of Kaua‘i is the oldest of the three main Hawaiian Islands. Kaua‘i's mountains intercept moist trade winds producing significant rainfall, stream discharge, and aquifer recharge. The white lines in the map below represent rainfall amounts, with the highest amount in the center of the map. The summit region of Kaua‘i, near |
| Introduction and Background - The Value of Forested Watersheds Native Ecosystems - Primary Threats - Existing Management |